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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Barefoot books

Kindness is overwhelming sometimes. The kindness of strangers is even more overwhelming; those who have no "vested interest" in caring sometimes care anyway. It is unfortunate that this is still a shock to us when it happens, for I wish for a world where kindness and generosity abounds.

A friend of ours has offered to host a fundraiser to help our adoption. She works with Barefoot Books, and has agreed to give a portion of the profits to our fundraising efforts. There is a widget (on the left) that will take you directly to the bookstore, or you may follow the link here:

This link will bring you directly to the page that will credit sales to our account. Please know that if you follow another link, it will not credit to us. Be sure it says "Menges Adoption Fundraiser" in your cart if you are purchasing to help us.

Reality continues to emerge as we grow closer to the day we will meet our future son, and it is an exciting time. We are honestly excited and nervous all at once. Sometimes, one emotion overshadows another, and then it flip flops again. Anyone who is endeavoring to adopt a special needs child must have some measure of fear. We would not be human if we did not have fear at the thought of the unknown.

Today I choose a verse from the book of Joshua, in part because it is such a good principle to meditate on and in part because Joshua is one of the names we are considering naming our Little Dude.

Joshua 1: 3-9

"I promise you what I promised Moses: 'Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you..."

This, for me, means that God will be with us in the darkness and stench of That Bad Place; He will walk with us as we enter the halls where our future son has lived for almost three years.

"No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you."
(Even in the darkest place, even in The Bad Place, even against people who do not see the children there as valuable and worthy).

"Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all of the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all of the instructions that Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Medidate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command - be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged."

And the last line, my favorite: "For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Into The Bad Place, into Bulgaria, into the life of this little one, into the future with him, as we fundraise...all of it. We know God is with us, ever-present and guiding our hands. We watch with gladness as others step forward to be counted among those who care about children who are voiceless and without hope, and we smile. We are grateful. Some are adopting, others are helping, and others are praying. Whenever you stand personally, we thank you for your thoughts and prayers, for sharing our story and supporting us. God is with us, wherever we go.